2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
A 3pp. 8vo. letter written in ink by Sergeant Martin V. Miller [Pittsburgh Landing Tenn., March 23rd, 1862], to his sister concerning the present condition of Union forces at Pittsburg Landing before the battle of Shiloh, reading, in part: "...we are still on board the steamer…we are camped now only a few miles below the line [of]…this state and Mississippi. We have…between fifty and sixty thousand men, where and when we will move next…I do not know…we are thoroughly prepared for a long march. We are now entirely cut off from the busy world, not having heard from any place or seen a paper for over two weeks…even our mail comes to us empty. The ranks of our Regiment have been trimmed considerable. We…now see more plainly the terrible effects of those fearful days at Donelson. Out of the six hundred brave men who marched to Donelson…there is now less than four hundred able for service out of our company. We left two at Clarksville including Brooks, one at Donelson, two at Paducah in the Hospital…three in Hospital here and seven or eight sick in camp. We buried one at Clarksville and one here yesterday. They were two of the largest and best men we had. John Decker is here in Hospital, also L.D. Barnes. Levi Allen had been very sick but is getting better. The rest of the boys are…well at present…". Usual spotting, else very good.
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